Employee Engagement in Multinational Diverse Organization in Difficult Terrain: A Study of Non-Family Station Organization

Engagements and commitments of many expatriates are often determined by several socio-economic, demographic, cultural, environmental and organizational factors. These issues faced by employees in duty stations like United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) often have telling effects on their work. Consequently, the broad objective of this study was to assess the influence of the working environment on foreign job commitment in UNAMID. The study applied "a mixed-method research approach", utilizing both "qualitative and quantitative research" strategies, with a sample size of 100 respondents from the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Darfur, Northern Sudan. Specifically, questionnaires and in-depth Interview were the main instruments. Findings from the quantitative studies showed no significant relationship between employee disengagement, work terrain, job stress, communication, socio-cultural factors and expatriate’s job commitment in UNAMID. While for the qualitative analysis, it was reported that there are both negative and positive effects of working in another country. The study, therefore, concludes that employee disengagement, job stress, working terrain, communication and socio-cultural factors are not associated, with expatriate's job commitment in UNAMID. It is therefore recommended that organizations should develop organizational peculiar plans and programs that would help cushion the physical and psychological effect of new working terrain on expatriates for them to be able to be effective, productive and be able to eventually achieve the ultimate goal of their deployment to the new work station

Geodesics in Heat

We introduce the heat method for computing the shortest geodesic distance to a specified subset (e.g., point or curve) of a given domain. The heat method is robust, efficient, and simple to implement since it is based on solving a pair of standard linear elliptic problems. The method represents a significant breakthrough in the practical computation of distance on a wide variety of geometric domains, since the resulting linear systems can be prefactored once and subsequently solved in near-linear time. In practice, distance can be updated via the heat method an order of magnitude faster than with state-of-the-art methods while maintaining a comparable level of accuracy. We provide numerical evidence that the method converges to the exact geodesic distance in the limit of refinement; we also explore smoothed approximations of distance suitable for applications where more regularity is required

Development of a prebiotic strawberry preparation for the dairy industry

Background. Food industry has been pressed to develop products with reduced sugar and caloric value, with the challenge of keeping rheological and sensory characteristics. Herein we developed a functional strawberry preparation for the dairy industry, by in-situ enzymatic conversion of sucrose into prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). Methodology. Two enzymatic complexes (Pectinex®Ultra SP-L and Viscozyme®L) were applied in the preparation. Operational parameters were optimized to maximize FOS yield: temperature, pH, enzyme:substrate ratio (E/S). Rheological, physicochemical and functional properties (INFOGEST gastrointestinal digestion protocol) were evaluated. Results. At optimal conditions (60 , pH 5.0), Pectinex produced 265±3 g·L1 FOS, yielding 0.581±0.006 gFOS·gin.GF1 after 7 h reaction (E/S:1/40); and Viscozyme produced 295±1 g·L1 FOS, yielding 0.664±0.004 gFOS·gin.GF1 after 5 h (E/S:1/30), both resulting in preparations with 50% (w/w) FOS. The caloric value was reduced 24%, including 80% sucrose reduction. Differences in colour, water activity and ºBrix were not relevant, while consistency and viscosity decreased 70% and pH increased from 4.4 to 4.7. FOS showed resistance to gastrointestinal digestion; only kestose was slightly hydrolysed at intestinal phase. Conclusions. A prebiotic strawberry preparation was successfully produced at lab scale, by in-situ enzymatic conversion of caloric into functional sugars. Next, the process will be scaled-up at industrial level. Background. Food industry has been pressed to develop products with reduced sugar and caloric value, with the challenge of keeping rheological and sensory characteristics. Herein we developed a functional strawberry preparation for the dairy industry, by in-situ enzymatic conversion of sucrose into prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). Methodology. Two enzymatic complexes (Pectinex®Ultra SP-L and Viscozyme®L) were applied in the preparation. Operational parameters were optimized to maximize FOS yield: temperature, pH, enzyme:substrate ratio (E/S). Rheological, physicochemical and functional properties (INFOGEST gastrointestinal digestion protocol) were evaluated. Results. At optimal conditions (60 , pH 5.0), Pectinex produced 265±3 g/L FOS, yielding 0.581±0.006 g(FOS)/g(initial.GF) after 7 h reaction (E/S:1/40); and Viscozyme produced 295±1 g/L FOS, yielding 0.664±0.004 g(FOS)/g(initial.GF) after 5 h (E/S:1/30), both resulting in preparations with 50% (w/w) FOS. The caloric value was reduced 24%, including 80% sucrose reduction. Differences in colour, water activity and ºBrix were not relevant, while consistency and viscosity decreased 70% and pH increased from 4.4 to 4.7. FOS showed resistance to gastrointestinal digestion; only kestose was slightly hydrolysed at intestinal phase. Conclusions. A prebiotic strawberry preparation was successfully produced at lab scale, by in-situ enzymatic conversion of caloric into functional sugars. Next, the process will be scaled-up at industrial level.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluating the structure and magnitude of the ash plume during the initial phase of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption using lidar observations and NAME simulations

The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland erupted explosively on 14 April 2010, emitting a plume of ash into the atmosphere. The ash was transported from Iceland toward Europe where mostly cloud-free skies allowed ground-based lidars at Chilbolton in England and Leipzig in Germany to estimate the mass concentration in the ash cloud as it passed overhead. The UK Met Office's Numerical Atmospheric-dispersion Modeling Environment (NAME) has been used to simulate the evolution of the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano during the initial phase of the ash emissions, 14–16 April 2010. NAME captures the timing and sloped structure of the ash layer observed over Leipzig, close to the central axis of the ash cloud. Relatively small errors in the ash cloud position, probably caused by the cumulative effect of errors in the driving meteorology en route, result in a timing error at distances far from the central axis of the ash cloud. Taking the timing error into account, NAME is able to capture the sloped ash layer over the UK. Comparison of the lidar observations and NAME simulations has allowed an estimation of the plume height time series to be made. It is necessary to include in the model input the large variations in plume height in order to accurately predict the ash cloud structure at long range. Quantitative comparison with the mass concentrations at Leipzig and Chilbolton suggest that around 3% of the total emitted mass is transported as far as these sites by small (<100 μm diameter) ash particles

Development of a functional prebiotic strawberry preparation by in situ enzymatic conversion of sucrose into fructo-oligosaccharides

Food industry has been pressed to develop products with reduced sugar and low caloric value, while maintaining unchanged their rheological and physicochemical properties. The development of a strawberry preparation for the dairy industry, with prebiotic functionality, was herein investigated by in situ conversion of its intrinsic sucrose content into prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). Two commercial enzymatic complexes, Viscozyme® L and Pectinex® Ultra SP-L, were evaluated for the synthesis of FOS. Operational parameters such as temperature, pH, and enzyme:substrate ratio (E:S) were optimized to maximize FOS yield. The rheological and physicochemical properties of the obtained strawberry preparation were evaluated. For functional analysis, the resistance of FOS to the harsh conditions of the gastro-intestinal digestion was evaluated by applying the standardized INFOGEST static protocol. At optimal conditions (60 , pH 5.0), Pectinex® produced 265±3 g·L1 FOS, yielding 0.57±0.01 gFOS·gin.GF1 after 7hours reaction (E:S:1:40); and Viscozyme® produced 295±1 g·L1 FOS, yielding 0.66±0.00 gFOS·gin.GF1 after 5 hours (E:S:1:30). The obtained strawberry preparations contained more than 50%(w/w) prebiotic FOS incorporated (DP 35), with 80 % reduction of its sucrose content. The caloric value was therefore reduced by 2631%. FOS showed resistance to gastrointestinal digestion being only slightly hydrolysed (< 10%). Fructo-furanosylnystose was not digested at any phase of the digestion. Although the physicochemical properties of the prebiotic preparations were different from the original one, parameters such as the lower °Brix, water activity, consistency and viscosity, and its different color, may be easily adjusted. Results indicate that in situ synthesis strategies are efficient alternatives in the manufacture of reduced sugar and low-caloric food products with prebiotic potential.This work was supported by the FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, by National Funds through the FCT under the project cLabel+ (POCI01-0247-FEDER-046080) co-financed by Compete 2020, Lisbon 2020, Portugal 2020 and the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by LABBELS – Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020. Daniela A. Gonçalves acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the PhD Grant (2022.11590.BD). The authors acknowledge Frulact SA for all support concerning the materials and information related to the industry sector.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In-situ enzymatic conversion of sucrose into prebiotic fructooligosaccharides for the development of a functional strawberry preparation

The increased search for reduced-sugar and healthier food products has driven the growth of the functional food market [1]. This opened space for the development of novel functional products. Frulact SA, a partner in this project, is specialized in the development and production of fruit-based preparations, which are mainly utilized in the dairy industry for incorporation in flavored yogurts. Its market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% until 2030 [2]. However, despite being rich in nutrients, these preparations have a high amount of caloric added sugar. To reduce this sugar in a strawberry preparation, we herein propose an in-situ enzymatic conversion of its sucrose content into prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) [3,4]. Two commercial enzymatic complexes were evaluated for the in-situ synthesis of FOS. At optimal conditions (60 °C and pH 5.0), Pectinex® Ultra SP-L yielded 0.57 ± 0.01 gFOS/gini.sucrose after 7 h reaction and Viscozyme® L, 0.66 ± 0.00 gFOS/gini.sucrose after 5 h. The resultant strawberry preparations contained more than 50 % (w/w) of FOS in total carbohydrates. Also, more than 80 % of the original sucrose content was reduced, diminishing its caloric value by 31 %. The data show that consumption of dairy products containing 10 % of the developed prebiotic preparation would result in the ingestion of >2.5 grams of FOS per 100 mL of product. The prebiotic preparation showed also to resist the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract since more than 90 % of FOS were not hydrolyzed during digestion. The conversion of sucrose into FOS changed some physicochemical and textural attributes of the original product (i.e., sweetness, color, viscosity, consistency), yet those can be easily adjusted. The in-situ technological approach here developed shown great potential as an innovative strategy for the development of low-sugar and low-calorie prebiotic food.This work was supported by the FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, by National Funds through the FCT under the project cLabel+ (POCI-679 01-0247- FEDER-046080) co-financed by Compete 2020, Lisbon 2020, Portugal 2020 and the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by LABBELS – Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020. Daniela A. Gonçalves acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the PhD Grant (2022.11590.BD).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Piezo- and magnetoelectric polymers as biomaterials for novel tissue engineering strategies

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are increasingly taking advantage of active materials, allowing to provide specific clues to the cells. In particular, the use of electroactive polymers that deliver an electrical signal to the cells upon mechanical solicitation, open new scientific and technological opportunities, as they in fact mimic signals and effects that occur in living tissues, allowing the development of suitable microenvironments for tissue regeneration. Thus, a novel overall strategy for bone and muscle tissue engineering was developed based on the fact that these cells type are subjected to mechano-electrical stimuli in their in vivo microenvironment and that piezo- and magnetoelectric polymers, used as scaffolds, are suitable for delivering those cues. The processing and functional characterizations of piezoelectric and magnetoelectric polymers based on poly(vinylindene fluoride) and poly-L-lactic acid in a variety of shapes, from microspheres to electrospun mats and three dimensional scaffolds, are shown as well as their performance in the development of novel bone and muscle tissue engineering.The authors thank the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for financial support under Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013 and project PTDC/EEI-SII/5582/2014, including FEDER funds, UE. The authors also thank the FCT for financial support under grants SFRH/BPD/90870/2012 (CR), SFRH/BPD/121526/2016 (DMC), SFRH/BD/111478/2015 (SR) and SFRH/BPD/121464/2016 (MMF). Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) through the project MAT2016-76039-C4-3-R (AEI/FEDER, UE) (including the FEDER financial support) and from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK Program is also acknowledged.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Motion during Acquisition is Associated with fMRI Brain Entropy

This work was funded by the University of Aberdeen Development Trust (DT OL1134), and the Wellcome Trust (104036/Z/14/Z).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Piezoelectric polymers as biomaterials for tissue engineering applications

Tissue engineering often rely on scaffolds for supporting cell differentiation and growth. Novel paradigms for tissue engineering include the need of active or smart scaffolds in order to properly regenerate specific tissues. In particular, as electrical and electromechanical clues are among the most relevant ones in determining tissue functionality in tissues such as muscle and bone, among others, electroactive materials and, in particular, piezoelectric ones, show strong potential for novel tissue engineering strategies, in particular taking also into account the existence of these phenomena within some specific tissues, indicating their requirement also during tissue regeneration. This referee reports on piezoelectric materials used for tissue engineering applications. The most used materials for tissue engineering strategies are reported together with the main achievements, challenges and future needs for research and actual therapies. This review provides thus a compilation of the most relevant results and strategies and a start point for novel research pathways in the most relevant and challenging open questions.This work was supported by FEDER through the COMPETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2013 and by the project Matepro – Optimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000037”, co-funded by the “Programa Operacional Regional do Norte” (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the “Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional” (QREN), through the “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER). CR, VS and DMC would like to acknowledge the FCT for the SFRH/BPD/90870/2012, SFRH/BD/64901/2009 and SFRH/BD/82411/2011 grants respectively